A cybersecurity course is an excellent option if you are a student looking to embark on a rewarding and in-demand career path. Not only does the field offer a wide range of job opportunities and competitive salaries, but it also provides the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on society by helping to secure our digital infrastructure and protect against cyber threats.

In this article, we will explore why students should consider a cybersecurity course, such as the increasing demand for skilled professionals, the educational pathways available and the exciting job opportunities.

What is Cybersecurity and why is it in demand?

Firstly, letā€™s explore what cybersecurity means. Cybersecurity is the protection of systems, networks and programmes from cyber-attacks. It is a practice used by companies to defend themselves from phishing schemes, ransomware attacks and data breaches.

These digital attacks are typically executed to access, alter or destroy sensitive information. Other motives could be to extort users’ money or interrupt routine business procedures.

Cybersecurity has become an increasingly critical field in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. As we continue to rely increasingly on digital technologies to carry out our daily activities, we are exposed to an ever-growing number of cyber threats. From identity theft and ransomware attacks to nation-state hacking and cyber espionage, these threats pose a serious risk to our personal privacy, financial security, and national security.

As a result, the demand for cybersecurity professionals has soared in recent years, with companies and governments seeking skilled individuals to protect their networks, systems and data.

According to , the number of cybersecurity job listings increased from 629 in 2018 Q1 to 4162 in 2021 Q1, being one of the most sought-after roles in Singapore. This growth is driven by various factors, including the increasing sophistication of cyber-attacks, the proliferation of internet-connected devices, and the growing cybersecurity measures.

How Cybersecurity Courses Can Land You Your Dream Career

The cyber security field ā€“ like many others, requires prerequisite knowledge and experience. Therefore, pursuing a cybersecurity course or qualification would be your best bet at landing your desired career.

Back in 2022, Josephine Teo, Minister-in-charge of Cyber Security Agency, granting up to S$90,000 of initiatives to bolster the development of talents to combat cyber-attacks. This was done as part of the efforts to increase training and cybersecurity job opportunities.

Whether you are a fresh graduate, a mid-career professional looking for a job switch, or an IT professional looking to upskill yourself, there are relevant certifications to improve your knowledge of cybersecurity concepts and technicalities.

1)         GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)

Suppose you are a mid-career professional with ambitions to switch jobs or a fresh graduate. In that case, you can look at the GSEC to learn valuable skills that put foundational terminologies and concepts to the test.

You will cover areas such as active defence, cryptography and cloud security, qualifying you as a competent cybersecurity employee. Layering this certification with an IT qualification from a local polytechnic or university can also increase the possibility of you landing your ideal cybersecurity job after graduation.

2)         CompTIA Security+

This course is similar to the GSEC and provides candidates with hands-on troubleshooting and problem-solving skills that can even help you secure an intermediate-level cyber security job.

However, if you are new to IT, take up the Google IT Support Professional Certificate to gain some skills first.

3)         EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

For professionals looking to consider a specialised route in cyber security, the CEH course trains candidates to rightfully hack into IT infrastructure and fix errors before any cyber-attacks. In addition, this certification will show employers you have specialised abilities in performing penetration testing, detecting attacks and implementing preventive measures.

However, you will minimally require two years of IT working experience to qualify for the CEH exam.

Like the courses above, plenty of other to upskill themselves. But before you do that, plan your career goals and decide which path will be best.

Top 5 Careers with a Cybersecurity Certification & Salary

There are various cyber security jobs in the market, and the nature of these roles vary greatly. However, they can be categorised based on the following specifications:

ā€¢           Your cybersecurity qualifications

ā€¢           Professional work experience in the field of cybersecurity

ā€¢           Your educational certifications

By carefully evaluating these specifications, you can choose the cybersecurity job that suits your preference and area of competence.

Now let us dive into cybersecurity career paths and the average salaries of a select few high-paying cybersecurity job roles in the cybersecurity field.

1) Chief Information Security Officer

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a senior executive who oversees information safety for an organisation. They are responsible for developing and preserving information security and risk management programmes.

CISOs also communicate with partners to update them about security concerns. Becoming a CISO requires years of working experience in various cybersecurity roles.

According to , the average annual salary for a CISO is S$180,000.

2) Cloud Security Specialist

Next, the job of a cloud security specialist revolves around protecting data, systems and networks from cyber-attacks. They also ensure that the data stored on a cloud server is safe.

The average annual salary for a cloud security specialist is S$84,000, which can vary depending on the years of working experience.

3) Penetration Tester

Now, we move on to an exciting role of a penetration tester, also known as an ethical hacker. A penetration tester is a security consultant who uses limitations in a system to test and hack it, documenting the results and making corrections.

The average annual salary for a penetration tester is S$106,176, and can go up to $132,175 in a senior position.

4) Security Architect

Security Architects design security structures that can prevent malware attacks, perform system tests, and provide technical assistance to other team members. It may be good to have a degree in computer science or information technology to become a security architect.

The average annual salary for a security architect is $127,015 and can be around $92,000 for entry-level candidates.

5) Computer Forensics Analyst

Lastly, computer forensics analysts work on cyber-attack cases to gather evidence and retrieve data, such as deleted, compromised or missing data. To become a computer forensics analyst, you require certifications like the Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) and Certified Computer Examiner (CCE).

The average annual salary for a computer forensics analyst is S$84,297.

Cybersecurity Courses for Beginners at 51±¬ĮĻ

Have any of the cybersecurity jobs mentioned piqued your interest? If you are keen on pursuing a cybersecurity course, it is important that you select the right educational institute for your study to enhance and maximise your learning experience.

At 51±¬ĮĻ, there is a range of cybersecurity courses for beginners to gain foundational information technology knowledge and kick-start their cybersecurity careers. Here are some courses and their course outline for you to know which is suitable for you:

1) International Foundation Diploma in Information Technology

This programme equips its students with fundamental knowledge and skills in information technology to prepare them for work and higher studies.

The curriculum covers Web Development Technology, Database and Information Management and Computing Systems to train you to be a competent professional.

2) Higher Diploma in Information Technology and Cybersecurity

Next up, the Higher Diploma in Information Technology and Cybersecurity is a course designed to teach you critical technical skills to secure computer and network resources and handle cyber range exercises.

The programme offers a unique hybrid curriculum consisting of specialised cybersecurity modules developed by the EC-Council and essential information technology modules.

The International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) is a professional certification body which has designed world-famous cybersecurity credentials.

By completing the EC-Council modules successfully, the EC-Council will award you with four industry-relevant certifications; the Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures (CEH) course, Computer Hacking Forensics Investigation (CHFI) course, Computer Security Incident Handling (ECIH) course and Certified Project Manager (CPM) course. On top of that, you will also be earning your Higher Diploma in Information Technology and Cybersecurity certification.

3) Bachelor of Science (Hons) Cybersecurity and Networks

The Bachelor of Science (Hons) Cybersecurity and Networks aims to equip students with professional and transferable skills to be competent in the workforce.

Its curriculum covers network architecture, python programming, ethical hacking and enterprise server management to teach students about the ever-changing discipline of cybersecurity and how to uphold the professional standards expected of a cybersecurity specialist.

The bachelorā€™s degree is awarded by Teesside University, a leading university in the UK with an international reputation for outstanding student and learning experiences. Furthermore, you can gain entry into either years 2 or 3 of the programme depending on your educational qualifications.

4) Master of Science Cybersecurity

Lastly, the Master of Science Cybersecurity focuses on developing studentsā€™ knowledge of the cybersecurity discipline and enhancing their intellectual ability to solve complex real-world problems.

The programme offers modules such as research methods, mobile systems and cybersecurity and IT ethics and law to use highly abstract ideas to develop critical responses and discover new approaches to cybersecurity.

The masterā€™s degree is also awarded by Teesside University, UK, which is the first modern university to be awarded the Times Higher Education University of the Year, back in 2009.

Cybersecurity Courses: Entry Requirements and Fees

Now that we have looked at the cybersecurity courses available, let us look at the entry requirements for the Higher Diploma in Information Technology and Cybersecurity programme and the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Cybersecurity and Networks programme.

Here are the entry requirements for the Higher Diploma in Information Technology and Cybersecurity programme. You have to be 16 years old and above, with one of the following admission requirements:

ā€¢           Minimally a Grade ā€˜Eā€™ in 2 subjects for the GCE ā€˜Aā€™ levels OR

ā€¢           Diploma from local polytechnics/ pathway programmes from other PEIs OR

ā€¢           An international applicant with 12 years of formal education

The admission requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Cybersecurity and Networks programme will vary according to the entry levels available for year 1 to 3. For more information, please refer to the programme’s entry requirements on 51±¬ĮĻ’ website.

Final Words

To summarise, pursuing a cybersecurity course can open up opportunities if your interest lies in cybersecurity.

The career options that await you if you decide to embark on this field not only offer high job security and high earning potential, but also provide you with the chance to make a positive impact on the safety and security of individuals and organisations.

Here at 51±¬ĮĻ, our School of Technology (SOT) aims to provide students with a well-rounded education in information technology with courses ranging from diploma to masterā€™s degree in Singapore. In addition, working together with renowned universities from UK and US, the emphasis is in allowing students to achieve a well-balanced education with a global relevance. Contact our consultants today for any enquiries; they will gladly assist you.

What interests you in the field of technology?

According to me, Digital Technology should be a fundamental right of any citizen.

From young, Iā€™ve always felt comfortable with Technology. I am from the era where technology just started in our regular life. Not everyone was comfortable with using technology. 

I remember my first ā€œNokiaā€ mobile phone even though there was no Whatsapp, Facebook and internet on my mobile. But I was happy to have my personal phone with me, my mother was able to be in touch with me via mobile phone. Slowly when Technology improved, we had smartphones so it seemed like everything was in our pocket. I remember the first social networking website I used during my early 20s was ā€œOrkutā€. 

On the other hand, there was news related to cyber threats such as phishing attacks, Dos attacks and more. From there I came to know about cyber-attacks, I read some articles related to cyber threats and saw how people were feeling scared with these threats. From there my interest in Ethical Hacking slowly improved. Many people think hackers are bad people. But itā€™s not true, there are different kinds of hackers. I am talking about ethical hackers/ white hat hackers, the good people. Ethical hacking teaches hacking together with ethics. 

At what point in your life did you realise that teaching was your calling?

I love to teach others. In my childhood, I always taught my classmates and did the same in my university years. At home, I taught my elder brother and nowadays I teach my son. My mother was a teacher. She used to share her teaching stories and she wanted me to see a teacher. So I choose teaching as my career. 

Any interesting stories on campus?

I joined 51±¬ĮĻ during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic teaches us many things including how to support each other especially with Burmist students as they needed mental support together with learning. Some of them share their scary stories which broke my heart. Also, I remember when I took a hybrid lesson, sometimes it was funny when I got up from my chair to answer a physical student’s query and the online students searched for me.

How important is cyber security with the increased presence of cloud storage nowadays?

Well, it is very important for cloud companies to work harder in cyber security as many of the companies are using cloud storage for their business. Any cyber-attack in the cloud is going to impact millions. Cloud service providers must make sure they have robust infrastructure, experienced and knowledgeable pen-testers as well as security analysts to deal with future cyber-attacks.

What do you do to destress? 

I do yoga, listen to music, and sometimes also dance to my favourite songs.

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If you are a fresh graduate, a job seeker, or maybe you are contemplating furthering your studies, it is important to understand the current job market and hiring trends and plan your career path wisely. By doing so, you can work towards achieving your desired income and perhaps, earning yourself a career in one of the highest paying jobs in Singapore.

Overview of jobs in Singapore with high salary

In Singapore, some of the growth sectors with high salary package includes Finance, Healthcare, Technology and Business. 

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the labour markets were disrupted significantly, with noticeably shifting demands to the job markets and industries in Singapore.

Some of the sectors were hit hard by the effects of the pandemic, while others were able to withstand or even thrive in the difficult times. Despite uncertainties that remain in the job market and elevated unemployment rates¹, it is sensible for anyone to change jobs and re-evaluate his/her career path during a crisis. Afterall, many growth sectors will continue to hire whether the Covid-19 pandemic will remain or not.

Should a high salary be an important consideration?

Voted as one of the highest cost of living countries in the world², it is true that a high salary in Singapore will be able to help you cope with the urban lifestyle expenses and high standard of living.

However, a high paying job usually means that a certain level of education certification and experience, especially for specialised sectors like healthcare. It is therefore important for you to plan your career path early and understand what you would like to achieve in life.

The best-paying jobs and salaries in Singapore

To help you plan and better understand some of the highest paying jobs and industries in Singapore, the below table shows the list of our top 10 jobs with high salaries.

What degree pays the most for new graduates in Singapore?

1.  Technology 

The Information Technology and Computer sector is one of the highest paying industries for fresh graduates and could be one of the best to start if you are going after a high paying job.

Having an interest in computers and technology is essential for this industry – and a specialised field like IT will require you to have a related degree.

Many companies are adapting to a new digital future, which has driven a demand for IT professionals who are equipped with in-demand skills in areas of Cybersecurity, Networking Technology and Database Systems. According to Salary Explorer³, a specialist with Ethical Hacking skill typically earns an income of around $6,800 per month.

A fresh graduate in the Technology field can take back an average salary of about $3,005 per month or about $39k per annum.

2.  Financial Services 

A financial hub is a city in which a large amount of financial transaction takes place. The Global Financial Centres Index ranks Singapore at the 6^th spot for the Top Ten Global Financial Centres.

With the Monetary Authority of Singaporeā€™s announcement in the issuance of four digital banking licenses⁴ in December last year, we can expect to see more hiring in the financial sector subsequently. Expected demand in job roles for this sector include operational risk, compliance, and financial analysis.

As a globally recognised, vibrant and competitive financial market, a fresh graduate in financial service can earn about $3110 per month or $40k per annum in Singapore.

3.  Business & Sales 

The Business and Sales unit in a company plays a vital role in driving revenue in the company. A business degree often offers a myriad of career choices and opportunities for fresh graduates, including Business Administration, Marketing and Sales. The entry-level salary for business and sales estimates around $3,000 per month, or $39k per annum. Do note that this depends on the industries as well.

4.  Engineering

With so many different types of engineering to choose from, including electrical and electronics, mechanical, construction, and many more, the role of engineers is important and in-demand across all industries.

Some of the in-demand skills and qualifications in emerging jobs of engineering hiring include Robotics Technology and Internet-of-Things (IoT). According to Salary Explorer⁵, a robotic engineer working in Singapore can earn around $8,230 per month depending on years of professional experience and education qualification.

With an estimated salary of about $2,700 per month, or $35k per annum for fresh graduates, the opportunities for engineers are wide-ranging and offer career progression and prospects.

5.  Healthcare

Local entry-level registered nurses currently take home about $3,300 per month or around $43k per annum.

Since the pandemic, the shortage of trained healthcare professionals has been magnified. The Singapore government is working to retain healthcare professionals by increasing their pay, to ensure competitiveness for the workforce.

With the opportunities and demand ahead in the healthcare sector, many are now considering a healthcare career. Whether a student looking to enter the industry, an existing medical professional looking to upskill for career progression, or even a mid-career switcher.

Interestingly, in comparison to other professions, a career in nursing is more versatile as nursing skills are always in high demand almost everywhere in the world. Therefore, it provides a greater opportunity if you aspire to work overseas in the future.

It is important to remember that as a specialised industry, having relevant education and qualifications is required for this industry.

Local institutions such as the 51±¬ĮĻ School of Health and Nursing offer a clear progressive educational path for anyone looking to work in the healthcare industry.

Some of the programmes include:

• Master of Business Administration (Health Management)
• Master of Public Health  
• Master of Science Healthcare Management
• Bachelor of Science Nursing (Top-up) 
• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Nutrition Science  
• Bachelor of Science (Hons) Healthcare Management

Whatā€™s Next

With the ever-changing landscape in the job market, it is critical to know and understand what kind of industries you want to go into. Keeping this in mind, it will be much easier to gear yourself towards the right education path and choose your specialisation.

Fresh graduates and job seekers may be faced with uncertainties, but it is still possible for you to land your dream job if you keep this in mind:

• Be well-prepared
• Equip yourself with the right skills
• Know your worth

And lastly, stay positive and keep working towards your goals!

For more information on the courses and various educational paths, visit the 51±¬ĮĻ website to find out more.

Source:

¹ Ministry of Manpower, 2021, Labour Market Statistical Information, Summary Table: Unemployment (Q3 2020).

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However, what people can and must do to prevent such a possibility, is to understand and identify an obvious cyber threat towards their private data. Thus, the following questions arise: what exactly are the common methods used to exploit personal information, what is the reason behind it and most importantly, how to protect yourself against personal-based cyber-attacks?

Before answering any of the questions above, first letā€™s define what is hacking. Hacking is a process of an unauthorized intrusion inside a personal computer or organization network. A person who is not only using tools designed for hacking action, but understands the concept behind them and uses it to construct his own program, can be referred to as a hacker.

There are two characteristics of a hacker that have to be taken into attention and that is: determination and diligence. Both of these terms show on how focused and concentrated the person is, when he is performing an illegal act of hacking.

The general reason to why people turn to hacking is to steal and misuse information. Some of the common ways the information is misused are identity theft, bank money transaction, spamming, data leakage, blackmailing, etc. Just by knowing some of your major credentials details, such as bank account number, your full name and DOB, a hacker may be able to do a lot of damage.

Here are 3 common cyber attacks that occur to the regular users on the outer Web, along with the advice on how to identify them.

1) Fake phishing email from the ā€œcustomer serviceā€, with the malicious URL link.

Phishing ā€“ the act of sending the email to the targeted user, in order to create a false sense of authority and scam a person into giving his private data for identity theft. It is not only considered as a technical attack, but also a psychological one. The sense of urgency, authority, anger or any other feeling that can trouble the user and surrender his data to the attacker is a vital part of this attack.

The typical signs of such emails are:

ā€¢ contain pictures or logos taken from the legitimate company website
ā€¢ sender email address is close to a legitimate company, but slightly different from the official one.
ā€¢ email will contain a link that will try to direct you to what you thought was the official website, but will actually direct you to a page where you enter your credentials

2) Hydracrypt ā€“ a type of Malware

Malware is commonly known as a general term for malicious software that may be a Virus, Trojan, spyware or adware. Once they are installed on your PC, these kind of software can seriously affect your system security and personā€™s private data, as it will secretly relay your confidential information to the third parties.

Such malicious programmes may hide within other software that the user is trying to install. Users might not know that they have accidentally installed such malware. After the installation of such files, a user may experience a sudden drop in a system overall performance, advertisement windows appearing in the operating system and constant crashes on the internet browser. It is advisable, that before installing any unknown software, a user must have a good antivirus and malware detector installed.

3) Man in the Middle – Interception of the communication medium by a 3rd party

Man in the Middle (MITM) is a type of a cyber-attack where the communication between two systems is being either intercepted or monitored by another entity. Such silent eavesdropping may occur on any type of communication channel: email, online messaging, and web surfing by hijacking personal email or the browser session.

Whenever, such attack is undergoing, it is very hard to check whether any third party is involved in the middle of the communication medium. However, a very obvious and noticeable fact about MITM is the time delay within the transmission channel.

Despite being a very dangerous attack, it doesnā€™t really mean that a user cannot completely avoid it. For example, Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions or MIME for short, allows user to encrypt the sending email, so that only receiving end can read it. Another instance would be to provide correct TLS or SSL certificates on the websites, by utilizing HTTPS protocol in your browser.

With continued advancement of Information Technologies, it will be vulnerable to hacking no matter how complex the systems are. What folks like me and you can do is to be aware of the existence of such cyber threats, keep the security of their systems up to date in order to reduce possible windows for cyber attacks or hacking.